mastodont's photostream  

Wanted to go back and try a winter sunrise. Temperature was already above freezing at this point but it's too early in the day for the snow to show it. What was cool, was that sheets of ice kept coming down Salt Creek and sliding over the dam. Kind of fun to watch (I'm pretty easy to entertain). The sunrise light is coming from behind the mill (southeast). I had to do a simple (0, -2 and +2) HDR to get any kind of detail to appear in the mill. This photo was taken on the morning of 01/16/12.

Entering service in 1874, this light has a beautiful second-order Fresnel lens.

Illinois only operating water-wheel (undershot) powered grist mill, established in 1852.

This shot looks like a fall shot, but it's from late December. Temperatures have been warmer than normal. There's also been a complete lack of any significant snowfall in our area so far this winter. The sun was dropping low in the valley towards the left of this shot, casting a beautiful glow in the sky and on the oak trees in the woods in the distance. Many of the oaks hang on to their leaves well into the winter (also there are some brown, dead pines in the background as well).
Wishing all a happy New Year. Hoping 2012 brings many blessings to you and yours.
Thanks for stopping by.

This shot worked out better in black and white. I have also cloned out 2 power line towers from the western horizon.